SDGs.indbGiven the devastating and far-reaching consequences of the COVID-19
pandemic on the world, the authors believe that this textbook is especially timely
and relevant for students. Poverty, hunger, environmental problems, and human
rights abuses are well-known global issues. However, what has been revealed
through the pandemic is how these problems have not only been exacerbated by, but
have also had a disproportionate impact on the most vulnerable and marginalized
people across the globe due to systemic inequalities. Thus, knowledge of the
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is particularly important in order to work
towards a more equal, inclusive, and sustainable post-pandemic world.
This textbook consists of fifteen chapters, fourteen of which focus on a
particular global issue. Each issue covered is relevant to at least one, and often
several SDGs. This will heighten the learners’ awareness of the interconnected
nature of the SDGs, and thus the necessity of a multi-pronged and integrated
approach to resolve the complex issues the world is facing today.
Based upon content that is focused on the SDGs, the textbook also provides a
systematic approach to improve students’ discussion skills. Each chapter follows a
similar six-part organizational pattern: Warm-Up, Vocabulary, Reading, Listen to
the Discussion, Let’s Research & Discuss, and Let’s Make a Speech. Following
an engaging warm-up activity, students move on to a vocabulary exercise that
leads into a short reading connected to the chapter’s theme. The reading provides
a context for further discussions and research, as does the subsequent listening
activity. Students will be able to practice useful words and phrases in addition to
discussion strategies. The culmination of each chapter guides students to research a
topic, prepare a speech, and facilitate their own small-group discussion.
Finally, as authors and instructors, we hope SDGs × Discussion will provide
the content and language tools for students and teachers alike to think creatively and
deeply about their own roles in shaping the future during these challenging times.
Authors
What are SDGs?
In September 2015, all United Nations Member States adopted the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs). Member states involving their respective governments,
businesses, media, institutions of higher education, and local NGOs are now working to
meet the SDGs by 2030. There are 17 SDGs
that cut across issues such as climate change,
environmental degradation, health, education,
are closely intertwined, and all of us on earth
need to tackle them to transform the world
for the better.
Goal 1 No Poverty
Goal 2 Zero Hunger
— End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable
agriculture
Goal 3 Good Health and Well-Being
— Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
Goal 4 Quality Education
— Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities
for all
Goal 6 Clean Water and Sanitation
— Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
SDGs.indb 4 21/10/06 13:32
Goal 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
— Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
Goal 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
— Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment
and decent work for all
Goal 9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
— Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster
innovation
— Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
Goal 12 Responsible Consumption and Production
— Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
Goal 13 Climate Action
— Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
Goal 14 Life Below Water
— Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable
development
— Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage
forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
Goal 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
— Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to
justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
Goal 17 Partnerships for the Goals
— Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable
development
Warm-Up
You will be asked to rate your level of agreement with three simple statements. This will
activate your initial thoughts on the topic.
Vocabulary
You can expand your vocabulary by matching the key words from the reading with English
definitions.
Reading
The readings will introduce you to a wide range of issues the world is facingclimate
change, environmental degradation, health, education, working conditions, gender equality
and peace to name a few. Read them carefully and critically, as they provide you with some
content knowledge and prepare you for discussions to come.
Comprehension Questions
You can check your understanding of the reading by answering the multiple-choice
questions.
After You Read
You will be asked to discuss with your partner which of the 17 SDGs are relevant to the
reading. List as many goals as possible that you think are relevant.
Useful Words and Phrases for Discussion
This section provides you with a list of useful expressions for successfully conducting
discussions.
Listen to the Discussion
You will listen to the discussions by three college students. They discuss SDGs as
ways to deal with the issues addressed in the reading section. By providing a natural
process of investigating problems and then considering solutions, this section can be the
catalyst for your own successful discussion. After you listen, you will be engaged in two
comprehension exercises (A and B) and then a dictation exercise (C) for the purpose of
reviewing the expressions you have learned so far.
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After You Listen
After listening to the discussion, this section gets you to think once again about which of
the SDGs relate to the overall chapter topic. How have your views on the SDGs changed
over learning? Add all the goals that you think are relevant, and you will realize the 17
SDGs are intertwined with each other.
Let’s Research & Discuss
Research
In this section, you will research a person, company, institution, organization, or community
that is making conscious efforts towards achieving the SDGs. You can use the provided
table to organize your information.
Discuss
You will be asked to share what you have researched in the previous section with your
classmates. Try to use the useful words and phrases for discussion you have learned so
far to activate the discussion.
Let’s Make a Speech
The last activity is to make your own speech on what you have researched and then
present it in front of your class. By using the provided table, organize your report and
check to see if it is logically coherent.
Evaluation
Using Evaluation Sheet (See Page 108), you will evaluate your speech and your
classmates’ speeches by a set of checklists.
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2 What Is a Woman-Friendly Society? Opening the discussion 16
3 Does Saving Infant’s Lives Slow Population Growth? Expressing a lack of understanding
Asking for clarification 22
4 Can Technology Solve the Water Crisis? Returning the discussion to the main point
Changing the topic 28
5 How Can Quality Education for All Be Achieved? Wrapping-up the discussion 34
6 What Does It Mean to Be a Sustainable City? Expressing opinions and thoughts 40
7 Will Black Companies Survive in the Future? Providing evidence and examples 46
8 What Can We Do to Help Stop Child Labor? Expressing agreement with reasons 52
9 How Can We Reduce Food Waste? Expressing disagreement 58
10 Is a World without Plastic Possible? Paraphrasing another person’s ideas 64
11 How Can We Embrace Diversity in Society? Politely asking for clarification or confirmation 70
12 What Kind of Energy Is Affordable and Clean? Commenting on an idea/opinion
Asking for an opinion 76
13 What Is Behind the Fashion Industry? Introducing different ideas and perspectives 82
14 Why Should We Protect Endangered Species? Summarizing the discussion 88
15 Will Tourism Break Down Cultural and Historical Barriers? Tips for a successful group discussion 94
Appendix: Evaluation Sheet for Speech 108
SDGs×Discussion Contents
Table of Contents
2 What Is a Woman-Friendly Society? Opening the discussion 16
3 Does Saving Infant’s Lives Slow Population Growth? Expressing a lack of understanding
Asking for clarification 22
4 Can Technology Solve the Water Crisis? Returning the discussion to the main point
Changing the topic 28
5 How Can Quality Education for All Be Achieved? Wrapping-up the discussion 34
6 What Does It Mean to Be a Sustainable City? Expressing opinions and thoughts 40
7 Will Black Companies Survive in the Future? Providing evidence and examples 46
8 What Can We Do to Help Stop Child Labor? Expressing agreement with reasons 52
9 How Can We Reduce Food Waste? Expressing disagreement 58
10 Is a World without Plastic Possible? Paraphrasing another person’s ideas 64
11 How Can We Embrace Diversity in Society? Politely asking for clarification or confirmation 70
12 What Kind of Energy Is Affordable and Clean? Commenting on an idea/opinion
Asking for an opinion 76
13 What Is Behind the Fashion Industry? Introducing different ideas and perspectives 82
14 Why Should We Protect Endangered Species? Summarizing the discussion 88
15 Will Tourism Break Down Cultural and Historical Barriers? Tips for a successful group discussion 94
Appendix: Evaluation Sheet for Speech 108
SDGs×Discussion Contents
16
Warm-Up
Rate your level of agreement with the following statements on a scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). Then discuss your answers with a partner.
Statement 1 2 3 4 5
There are few female politicians in my country.
Over 40 percent of business executives in my country are women.
In my country, boys and girls receive equal treatment in the
educational system.
Word Definition
1. parity
2. attainment
3. empowerment
4. noteworthy
5. implement
b. to put a plan or decision into effect
c. something that is achieved
d. having more control over one’s own life
e. the state of being equal
Reading CD1-04DL 04
Read the article. Then answer the comprehension questions.
According to the Global Gender Gap Report 2021, Japan ranked 120th out of
156 countries. Japan remains the worst-ranked member of the Group of Seven (G7)
industrialized nations. The statistical data on gender parity is analyzed by weighing
four categories: 1) economic participation and opportunity; 2) educational attainment;
3) health and survival; and 4) political empowerment.
A noteworthy fact is that Japan ranked very low in the political empowerment
category. According to the report, women make up only 9.9% of the Diet’s Lower House
5
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and 10.0% of the Cabinet. In terms of economic
participation and opportunity, Japan has also
made little progress in closing the gender gap.
Japan’s gender wage gap is still high and the
percentage of women in managerial positions
remains below the world average.
In contrast, more women are in
leadership positions in other developed
countries. Iceland ranked the highest, followed by Finland, Norway, New Zealand, and
Sweden. In many cases, these countries introduced positive action, which are measures
carried out by governments and employers to enable “protected” groups to minimize
disadvantages, to meet their different needs, and to encourage their participation in
society. Positive action for women is one way to reduce the gender gap and expand
women’s participation in society. Similar policies implemented in other countries may
be known as “quotas” or “affirmative action.”
In order to achieve gender equality, these countries are making laws and policies at
the national level. Corporations, institutions, and organizations are then implementing
their own policies to promote women-friendly working environments. 251 words
Comprehension Questions
Circle the best answer to each question. Compare with a partner.
1. In which category did Japan rank poorly?
a. Educational attainment
a. Policies that encourage the advancement of women
b. A worldwide initiative to reduce the gender wage gap
c. A government bill to build women’s communities
3. How did the top five countries achieve greater gender equality?
a. Their government forced corporations to make policies to hire women.
b. These countries implemented laws and policies to advance women in society.
c. Women in these countries were very motivated to work outside the home.
After You Read
Work with a partner. Discuss which of the SDGs are relevant to the reading. Support your ideas with examples.
10
15
20
25
Listen to the discussion. Then answer the following questions.
A. Read each statement. Check the box of the speaker.
Mika David Natasha
rankings in the gender gap index.
2. Renault has implemented positive action plans for gender
diversity since 2010.
3. There used to be only a small population of female
students in higher education.
Useful Words and Phrases for Discussion Choose a leader to start a discussion on the assigned topic. The leader will introduce the topic
and facilitate the discussion. Here are phrases to start a discussion.
Opening the discussion
Today, we will discuss...
Our discussion topic is...
B. Circle T (True) or F (False) for each statement.
1. The discussion topic is the gender gap in wages. T / F
2. In Sweden, half of the political party leaders are women. T / F
3. Natasha mentioned positive action plans and brought up an
example of EU plans. T / F
4. Mika talked about affirmative action. T / F
5. In the US, progressive policies have promoted gender diversity in
education. T / F
C. Below is Mika’s first statement. Listen again and fill in the blanks.
Mika: Hi, my name is Mika. I’m going to be 1 .
Our topic is how to promote the advancement of women. First, 2
some background about the situation for women in Japan. The
percentage of Japanese women who hold high-level or managerial positions in
politics and business is way behind the world average. How did this happen? David,
3 ?
After You Listen
Work with a partner. After you listen to the discussion, which of the SDGs would you like to add? Explain why.
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Research
Research a person, company, institution, organization, or community that empowers women. Investigate what it does to promote women’s participation and encourage women-friendly working environments. Complete the table below.
Person/Company/Institution/
Organization/Community
(Internet, books, newspapers, etc.)
equality?
Discuss
1. Let’s discuss what you’ve researched in small groups. You can refer to the model discussion before you start. Also, check the useful phrases below.
Model Discussion A: Let’s share what we’ve researched. Who’s going to start?
B: OK, I will. I researched action taken by Nagano Prefecture regarding this SDG. I found this
information in a local newspaper.
C: What kind of action is the prefecture taking to promote gender equality?
B: The percentage of women in managerial positions is low in Nagano, so they started a networking event
where women can talk about their careers with each other.
Useful phrases to open a discussion / share information
Let’s share what we’ve researched.
I researched action taken by... I found this information...
To promote women’s participation, the organization initiated...
2. To encourage discussion, ask additional questions.
What do you think of positive action? Is it effective? Is it reverse discrimination? / Would you like to
engage with their SDG-related actions for gender equality?
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Let’s Make a Speech
Use the table below to help you organize your report to the class.
Topic: Describe SDG-related measures for gender equality which a person, company,
institution, organization, or community has taken.
Introduction
Introduce a person, company, institution, organization, or community that you have researched.
Give the source(s) of your information.
Description of the measures
Describe the SDG-related measures.
Present additional SDG-related measures.
Evaluation
Use the Evaluation Sheet (see p.108) to evaluate your speech and your classmates’ speeches.
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